Nixson Benitez

University of Northern Iowa

Nixson Benitez, a first-generation college student at the University of Northern Iowa, is a student leader active in addressing the lack of diverse voices in the media and giving voice to youth concerns. Benitez serves as the Executive Editor for the Northern Iowan, UNI’s student newspaper. In addition to his work with the Northern Iowan, Benitez is one of the founders and secretary for the Iowa Association of Black Journalists and has served as a Youth Specialist for the Youth Justice Council, through the Iowa Department of Human Rights.

Mark Nook
President
University of Northern Iowa

Personal Statement

As a Salvadoran-American in Iowa, it is important that there is representation engaged in all aspects of the media and management. It is important to be loyal to the community and to hold people with power accountable. My passion is to serve the people of Iowa by writing and engaging in community organizing. The roles that I served include being the Executive Editor of the Northern Iowan, where I got to do my part of leading a team in highlighting news taking place in our community and bringing access to information in our current Spanish column. Other roles include being the Secretary of Iowa Association of Black Journalists, a chapter that aims to bring black and brown journalists across the state of Iowa and Nebraska together. As a former English Language Learner (ELL) student, a program designed to make academic content accessible to English Learners. It is important to value our students who are bilingual as they are natural leaders for their communities. ELL programs hold the world in their classrooms and we need to value that and make sure students and families receive access to opportunities in higher education and in decisions that impact the future of the community.

Nixson Benitez
Digital Media Journalism & minoring in Web Development: Class of May, 2023
written 2022

2022 Fellows Alphabetical by Institution

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Amogh Bandekar, UNC Charlotte Karen De La Rosa De Alejandro, Universidad de Monterrey Jeromy Hunt, Jr., University of Central Arkansas Isabeau Tyndall, University of Central Florida Samantha Gove, University of Connecticut Lauren Bower, University of Dayton Ryan DeRosa, University of Delaware Kayla Mazariego, University of Houston-Downtown Kotomi Yokokura, University of Kentucky Drake Ingram, University of La Verne Katharine McDaid, University of Mary Washington Zoi Burns, University of Massachusetts Dartmouth Fabrizio Darby, University of Miami Ben Leavitt, University of Michigan Sydney Drennen, University of Missouri-St. Louis Sophia Rodriquez, University of Montana Massimiliano Saitta, University of Nebraska at Omaha Kate Mathews, University of New Hampshire Grey Nebel, University of North Georgia Nixson Benitez, University of Northern Iowa Jessica Ford, University of Pennsylvania Nina Mennies, University of Pittsburgh Penny Hu, University of Richmond Shayla Rodriguez, University of San Diego Aaron Fontan, University of San Francisco Richard Bennett, University of South Carolina Beaufort Angela Maloney, University of Wisconsin-Madison Tess Dimler, University of Wisconsin-Parkside Zea Miller, UW Green Bay
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